The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-26
Like a bird in the air,
Like a boat in the sea
Like a fawn from its lair,
The maiden must fee.

1 a
Like fawn from its lair,
The maiden must fee
While Nyra was exchanging hel
drenched garments, and partaking oi
those refreshments which her late and
eomfortlass ride rendered so necessary
she related to her young friends the
cause of this sudden abandonment OF
her home; and they, with all the warm
enthusiasm and vivid romance of youth
entered into her feelings and plans.
There was no sleep for any of the
pretty group chat night, but closeted in
little bedroom, with bright fire flash
ing and glowing over their lovely and
eager faces, the young girls plotted and
held council together, sometimes laugh
ing at the miserable plight in which
Myra had presented herself at the door
sometimes listening with start, as il
amid the rush and pause of the STERN,
they yet feared to detect the tread oil
some person in pursuit of the beautiful
"And now" said Myra, after all had
been told, "let us deliberate on the best
step. At daylight | must start for New
Castle, and thence to Baltimore in time
to prevent Mr.. Whitney taking the
boat. He must not approach Whining
ton. Who will go with me? Where
can / rest for few hoars in secrecy p'
"Who Will 60 with you? why, father,
of course exclaimed one of the Young
girls. entering heart and soul into the
interests of her friend. "Where can
you rest? Have we not brother mar
ried and settled at New Castle, who
knows and loves you even as we do? His
wife will receive you, and joyfully
enough"
Myra arose, her sweet face animated
and sparkling with gratitude: she threw
her arms around the young girl and
kissed her.
''Oh, what friends you are; how
love you," she said, in her own frank,
joyous way, turning to the other sister
and pressing her forehead with lips that
glowed with generous feeling. at is
worth while having little trouble, if it
were only to prove such hearts as yours.
| shall never forget this night; never to
my dying day.
"0h, it is quite like romance, Ny
ra," exclaimed the younger of the girls,
laugh. Here we had been for hours
and hours watching at the window, with
the rain beating and pelting on the glass
close to our faces, and exactly like two
characters in a novel.
"Then, between the flashes of light
ming and the rain that absolutely came
down in sheets-I never saw anything
like it in my life-you came toiling up
to the door, like some poor little fairy
shut out in the storm-your face so wet
and pale, and your eyes flashing like di-
Almonds, and your black curls all drip
ping with rain. Upon my word, Myra,
there was something unearthly about it
ALL"
perhaps it is BEST" said Myra, smil-
ing at the vivid fancy of her young
friend. Had the night been calm and
everything quiet, | should have felt it
more. The storm gave me courage. 1t
seemed as if the very rushing and out
break of the elements excited sort of
heroism in my heart. Had it been a
soft moonlight evening, when l could
have seen the old trees and flowers, and
all those sweet objects that poor mamma
and have loved to look upon SO soft
when the moonlight was upon them, L
could have hardly found strength to
leave them all. Poor, poor mamma,
how she will grieve; it will be sad
morning for her."
Myra bowed her head as she spoke,
and her dark eyes filled with tears. The
young girls gazed upon her with sad
dened countenances. This sorrow, so
natural, so true, it was something to
chill all their light ideas of romance.
Myra still sat with her face bowed
down, lost in painful thought. Her
heart was once more in its old home.
She thought of the mother, the kind,
gentle woman, who had taken her, like a
young bird from the parent nest, and up
to the very day had warmed her, as it
were, with the pulses of her own heart
into life and happiness.
She thought of The proud old man,
proud, but full of strong affections
self willed, but generous; who was dig
nified and grand even in his errors-of
the old man who had loved her so long
and so well. She thought of him, too,
and the tears rolled fast and heavily
down her cheeks. 1t was terrible ro-
nance to her, poor thing.
Nothing but firm sense of right
could have induced her to proceed a
step further in it. She was no young
heroine, but noble, strong minded, wo-
man, suffering keenly, but firm because
she believed herself to be in the right.
| There was silence for a time, for the
young girls respected the grief of their
| friend, then the eldest arose and lean
ing over Myra's chair, began with gen.
tie delicacy to smoothe and arrange the
light tresses that had been so completely
disordered by the storm.
"And when yeu have found Mr.
Whitney, Myra, when you have prevent
ed the meeting, how will it all end? In
a wedding and a recon ciliation at the
great house, no Doubt" said the sweet
girl, anxious to draw her friend from
the painful reyerie into which she had
| fallen.
NO." answered Myra, brushing the
tears from her eyes, 81 expect nothing
like reconciliation. When abandon
thoughts of return. gave up every
thing then"
Everything but love; everything but
the man who loves you," whispered hel
| friend.
"Even love-even him-I gave up all
| Do you think that l have dream oi
marrying him now7 That I intend te
surround myself with the vulgar eclat o.
a runaway match? 1t was to save hi
life that left my home. 1 viii NEE
him on the way, warn him of MI
fathers hatred, and free him of all thu
engagements that have existed between
U.S.
"And where-will you go then, dea
friend? ?'
i aI have relatives in the West Indies
as have been told, and had resolved
to seek their protection before leayin,
home"
| "Then there win be no wedding afte
all, and we shall lose you altogether,
cried the young girl, half in tear
at the thoughts of this abrupt separa
tion.
/ mot forever; ] am sure we shall NEE
again. answered Myra, casting an anz
/ ious glance through the window, for tn
conversation was arousing old feeling
| too keenly within her. "But it vii
soon be daylight
/ II have Just aroused father, and toll
him all; be will go with you. to Ne,
CASTLE said the young girl, who ha
been absent from the room. "The stag
starts by day-break."
/ Daybreakl The gray of morning wa
| i'm the sky even then. Instantly ther
was hustle of preparation in that littl
bedroom.
Il Myra's garments, that had been DIR,
| ing BY the FIRE, were hastily crowded il
Ito the trunk; fathom or two va. ca
from the bed cord, that her ill-secure
luggage might have had the best protes
ton their means afford ed, and at the I,
pointed time all was ready for Myra
departure.